02 Jun

Pacific Edge Magazine 2013 Business Achievement Awards Gala

2013 so far has been a very busy year for us at A.S. Designs & Services. Our company and clientele has grown, we launched a new app for our real estate client for the iPhone and iPad, we had our first ASDS Workshop, and we were also a finalist for Best Social Media Campaign at this year’s Pacific Edge Magazine Business Achievement Awards!

In 2008, Element Media, Inc. and the Pacific Edge Magazine staff developed the idea for the Annual Pacific Edge Magazine Business Achievement Awards to recognize the outstanding accomplishments, dedication and innovation of the local business community.  They created ten awards that are most reflective of the magazine’s values and features.

The Best Social Media Campaign category is described as: Social media has changed marketing in business and has become an integral part of a company’s communications strategy. Nominees in this category have utilized these tools successfully and tracked the impact of social …

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07 May
What is Social Media Marketing

Why is Social Media Called “Social?”

At the end of April, ASDS offered a class called, “Introduction to Social Media.” (If you missed the class, we will be offering another soon.)

Towards the end of the class, one student asked the obvious question: “Why is it called ‘social’ media?” Truthfully, I answered, it is such a part of my day that I wasn’t really sure. So I went to find out.

Old School Media – 19th and 20th centuries

In the Old School media model, information was doled out to the population by powerful authority figures, who told you want they wanted you to hear. There wasn’t a way to easily respond (other than to buy the product), and it was next to impossible to find and connect with other like-minded people.

Information flowed one way. Advertising was crafted to reach the widest audience, and the lowest common denominator.

Social Media – 21st century

In the Social Media model, information now runs both ways between the authority source and the reader. This ability to communicate …

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29 Apr
PacificEdgeMag 2013 Finalists

AS Designs Named Top Three for Best Social Media Campaign

Element Media, Inc., Hawai’i’s foremost custom publishing firm, will host the exclusive 3rd Annual Pacific Edge Magazine Business Achievement Awards Gala on Thursday, May 30th, 2013 from 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at The Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace.

This red carpet gala highlights the impressive achievements of Hawai’i’s leading companies, business professionals, non-profit organizations and outstanding K-12 educators.

This year AS Designs & Services was named as one of the Top Three Finalists for the Best Social Media Campaign for our work with Lava Lava Beach Club. We are very grateful to the Lava Lava Beach Club crew for helping make this a successful campaign.

Thank you to Pacific Edge Magazine for awarding us this high achievement.

http://www.pacificedgeawards.com

 

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11 Apr

Workshop: Intro to Social Media Marketing, April 30 2013

Please join us for a 90-minute introduction to the world of social media as it relates to business and internet marketing.

We’ll introduce you to

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest Instagram Yelp and more How these outlets integrate and relate to “The Big Picture”

Where AS Designs & Services offices 308 Kamehameha Ave., Suite 115  |  Map

When April 30, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Who Anyone who wants to learn the basics of social media for business and internet marketing.

Cost: Free

Your Instructors: Cymber Lily Quinn, Ian Hatch, Taryn Wong Fowler – AS Designs & Services

To register for this class, please go to our Workshop Registration Page >>

* NOTE:  We will be broadcasting this workshop LIVE to the web.  You can watch and/or participate from your computer if you are unable to come in person. Please register for more instructions. Workshop Registration >>

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02 Apr

Keep It Simple: Tell Your Company Story Like A Children’s Story

We really enjoyed Michael Brito’s blog post, suggesting that content strategy should be as simple to communicate as a children’s story.  This is where Internet Marketing and Design meet to tell a story…which is the first step towards properly engaging your audience.

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I used to read “Love You Forever” to both of my girls when they were little. Even thinking about it today, I still get choked up. It’s really a heartfelt story.  What I remember the most about it is that it uses imagery to tell a very significant story (as with most children’s books). The story is about a mother’s unconditional love for her son; and then chronicles her son’s life growing to an adult and starting his own family. The sad conclusion shows how he reciprocates his love to his mother who has grown to be an elderly woman. There are just a few sentences on each page but the story and illustration is powerful and you can even follow along without even reading the text.

This is …

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28 Mar

New Smartphone App Makes Finding Rentals Easy

HILO, HAWAII – March 27, 2013 – Finding a rental on the Island of Hawai’i just got a lot easier. Day-Lum Rentals, the largest property management company on the Big Island, has launched a new app for the iPhone and iPad to help renters find their new home faster.

Developed by “yours truly” The AS Designs & Services NEW Mobile Application Development Team, the new app allows renters to see what listings Day-Lum has available at any given time. These are the same listings that are available on Day-Lum’s rental web site.

“We love the new app,” says Nancy Cabral, owner of Day-Lum Rentals. “We are thrilled to be able to give the properties we manage much greater exposure and accessibility to all potential clients around the world via our new Day-Lum app!”

Map-Based Rental Listings The easy-to-use intuitive interface works like most other iPhone and iPad apps. Users touch the screen to view the rental listings in various different ways. An interactive map of the area shows push-pins that allow the user to click and see more information …

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28 Mar
outsource socialmedia and internet marketing

Want to Outsource Your Social Media?

SocialNicole explains all you need to know when choosing an agency to outsource your social media:

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Social media is not going away and for businesses it is not good strategy to simply ignore this communication tool. You wouldn’t ignore your telephone would you? Nope. So why would you ignore the most rapidly growing communication method – a method that allows your customers to not only connect with you, but to connect with others? Simply put, businesses who want to be around in 5-10 years must start engaging in social media and figuring out how to use it as an effective communication tool and marketing medium.

Many small and mid-sized businesses have set up a social presence. They have presences on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and possibly even YouTube. But it’s obvious that many of these businesses do not have the time or the knowledge to utilize these tools effectively in their marketing.

Does this scenario sound like you? If so, outsourcing may be the right choice.  Last week, we led you through how to make this decision.

If you …

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11 Mar
Know your audience when writing

Help! What Do I Write About On My Blog?

Just the other day, one of our clients asked a great question: “What’s a blog for?”

A blog is a special web page that’s a regular way to share current news and events. You can think of it as an on-going magazine or newsletter. Your blog lists articles in order of publication date. Ideally, you should add content two to four times per month, but you can write more often than that if you have more news.

Business-to-Business Blogs

Blogs are great place to share industry news. If you run a B2B (business-to-business) company such as a consultancy, you can write about:

important legislation affecting your industry new methodologies interesting conferences talks or classes you are giving educational articles (like this one)

Retail Blogs

If you own a retail business such as a restaurant or store, blogs are great places to announce things like:

drink specials contests, giveaways new menu items special events art openings changes in hours holiday events music events

Personal Blogs

It’s always nice to have a personal note from the business and/or staff now and then. …

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11 Mar
Hilo web design, internet marketing, logo, branding

Instagram Best Practices for Brands

As of February 26, 2013 Instagram reached 100 million active monthly users, after gaining 10 million users in one month!  Instagram is now one of fastest growing mega social media networks, and being an active user is as simple as snapping a photo on your smart phone.

Besides the personal aspect, Instagram is a great social media tool for businesses to share their products, food, store, employees, anything! Photos are easy, fun, and have the ability to entice potential customers into your establishments.

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In Part 1, ‘Secrets from an Instagram Power User: How @missyhelly got 51k Followers’ we interviewed HootSuite’s Mobile Designer, Helen Park on her best practices for Instagram users. “I’m amazed at the lack of engagement by brands for their customers in social,” says Helen. Over the last few years, Instagram has proven itself as a tool that allows celebrities, bloggers and youth-focused brands to effectively reach today’s audience. But are top brands “bringing it” to the same extent as these power users?

…

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04 Mar
Social Media Listening Professional Techniques

Social Media Listening: What Is It and How Do You Do It?

The world wide web can at times be intimidating and can sometimes resemble a infinite black hole of despair.  What people are saying about your business online can directly influence if they will be buying your products, walking into your store, or sitting at your restaurant tables.  So, are you listening to what people are saying about your business online?

Social media listening is a key element for managing communities, following trends that influence your business and community, monitoring brand perception, identifying engagement opportunities, and developing your network.

Sounds like gibberish? This simply means: listening and responding to your  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Yelp, your blog, followers, and planning your eMarekting strategies accordingly.

 

ASDS and Social Media Listening

1. Hootsuite Pro

Hootsuite Pro monitors social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Google plus, and LinkedIn.  This valuable tool has the ability to see mentions in real time and also specific streams on a detailed level, so that if your audience is talking to you it won’t be missed, and you can talk back.

2. Set up Google Alerts

Google …

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